http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=9&article=1460
Where Godless Evolution Leads
| by | Dave Miller, Ph.D. |
What would one expect to be the result of 50 years of teaching young people that there is no God, and that humans are simply “higher” on the evolutionary ladder than other forms of animal life? One example would be PETA’s (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) “Fish Empathy Project.” “Fish are so misunderstood because they’re so far removed from our daily lives,” said Empathy Project manager Karin Robertson. “They’re such interesting, fascinating individuals, yet they’re so incredibly abused” (Crary, 2004). As the director of PETA’s UK office explained: “So many beautiful, thinking, feeling animals—who value their lives as we value ours—needlessly killed because we humans can’t seem to break our addiction to the taste of flesh” (Carr, n.d.). “No one would ever put a hook through a dog’s or cat’s mouth,” said Bruce Friedrich, PETA’s director of vegan outreach (Crary, 2004). In fact, Friedrich questioned why there is popular support for sparing marine mammals—dolphins and porpoises—yet minimal concern for species like tuna, “whose suffering would warrant felony animal cruelty charges if they were mammals” (Crary, 2004). Marine biologist, Dr. Sylvia Earle, agrees: “I wouldn’t eat a grouper any more than I’d eat a cocker spaniel. They’re so good-natured, so curious. You know, fish are sensitive, they have personalities, they hurt when they’re wounded” (PETA’s Fish Empathy…,” 2004).
After creating the animals, God created the first human beings, setting them apart from the animal kingdom by creating humans in His own image (Genesis 1:27). Humans possess a soul—a spirit—that lives on after the death of the body (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Zechariah 12:1; Luke 16:22-31; Hebrews 12:9; James 2:26). Animals do not share this spiritual dimension in common with humans. Animals are not human, and are not to be regarded as such. The Bible speaks directly to the question of the relationship between humans and fish. Humans are to “have dominion (i.e., rule) over the fish of the sea” (Genesis 1:26,28; cf. Psalm 8:6-8). In fact, the Bible declares specifically that, among other things, “all the fish of the sea…are given into your hand…[and] shall be food for you” (Genesis 9:2-3, emp. added).
Atheism and evolution inevitably demean humanity and deify animals. The Bible and Christianity lift humans up and call upon them to measure up to the “image” (Genesis 1:26-27) and dignity bestowed upon them by the Creator. The words of Jesus apply to fish as much as they apply to birds: “Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26).
REFERENCES
Carr, Dawn (no date), “They Die Slowly…,” [On-line]: URL: http://www.fishinghurts.com/feat/dieslowly/.Crary, David (2004), “PETA Campaign Pitches Fish As Smart,” [On-line], URL: http://news.findlaw.com/ap_stories/other/1110/11-16-2004/ 20041116223004_23.html.
“PETA’s Fish Empathy Ad Hits the Airwaves,” (2004), [On-line], URL: http://fishinghurts.com/feat/linda/.